On a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

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DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDATION

to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty

(2025/2168(INI))

– having regard to the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part, signed on 30 October 2016 and provisionally applied since 1 April 2017,

– having regard to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part, which entered into force provisionally on 21 September 2017,

– having regard to the EU-Canada Digital Partnership and the EU-Canada Green Alliance, launched on 23 November 2023,

– having regard to the statement by the European Union and Canada entitled ‘Joint Statement: Enduring Partnership, Ambitious Agenda’, adopted at the EU-Canada Summit held in Brussels on 23 June 2025,

– having regard to the Security and Defence Partnership between the European Union and Canada, signed at the EU-Canada Summit held on 23 June 2025,

– having regard to its recommendation on the EU’s diplomatic strategy and geopolitical cooperation in the Arctic,

– having regard to Rule 121 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on International Trade,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A100000/2025),

A. whereas in a geopolitical context of increased great power rivalry, political volatility and accelerating climate change, the European Union and Canada have a shared and increased interest in deepening their cooperation and upholding the rules-based international order;

B. whereas the EU and Canada are strategic partners united in their conviction that democracy, the rule of law, human rights and multilateral cooperation are beneficial to Canadian and European societies and the international community and should therefore be defended by global alliances of like-minded partners;

C. whereas effective EU-Canada cooperation based on joint leadership and responsibility is critical in tackling global challenges, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russia’s hybrid warfare against democratic societies, geopolitical competition in the Arctic, China’s growing assertiveness, increased volatility in US foreign policy, climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

D. whereas cooperation between the EU and Canada within existing frameworks is essential to preserve and enhance prosperity for both parties; whereas examples of this essential cooperation include trade and economic cooperation, and joint ambitions to address challenges such as the green and digital transition;

E. whereas Canada, through its commitment to long-term support for Ukraine and strong leadership during its G7 Presidency, has proven to be a strategic partner to the EU and a reliable NATO ally;

F. whereas the full potential of existing instruments of EU-Canada cooperation must be actualised and the EU-Canada partnership strongly enhanced in order to stand together against Russia’s war against Ukraine, the revisionism of geopolitical actors, the escalation of hybrid warfare campaigns against democratic societies, climate change, and challenges to the global trade order ;

1. Recommends that the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

The EU-Canada partnership: institutional framework

(a) seize this moment of shared challenges as an opportunity to fully harness the potential of the EU-Canada Strategic Partnership and elevate the relationship to a new level in the pursuit of common interests and values in a rapidly changing global environment;

(b) maximise its efforts to swiftly implement the conclusions of the EU-Canada Summit of 23 June 2025, by taking concrete steps to achieve tangible progress in the areas outlined in the Joint Statement and the Security and Defence Partnership;

(c) intensify multilevel dialogues, including summits and joint initiatives, as well as long-term cooperation formats at working level in order to deepen cooperation and jointly address global challenges;

(d) support a stronger role for parliamentary dialogue in the strategic partnership; notes that Canada enjoys legal observer status with the Council of Europe; calls for an increase in cooperation at parliamentary level and for the Council of Europe to regularly invite Canada to interparliamentary meetings as an observer;

Cooperation in foreign and security policy

(e) increase cooperation with Canada in responding to imminent security threats to our societies, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid attacks and interference in democratic societies on both sides of the Atlantic, China’s assertiveness, increased volatility in US foreign policy, the consequences of climate change and the situation in the Middle East;

(f) set out a roadmap to ensure the full and timely implementation of the commitments made in the Security and Defence Partnership, which provides a coherent political framework for joint efforts in this field under initiatives that complement the parties’ cooperation in NATO, such as Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and ReArm Europe;

(g) further build on the EU and Canada’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the shared commitment to providing long-term political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance, inter alia, by jointly working towards forging a strong international alliance in favour of the use of immobilised Russian sovereign assets;

(h) coordinate sanctions on and the diplomatic isolation of Russia with Canada and other partners;

(i) review and increase cooperation with Canada to combat cyber and hybrid warfare threats and counter destabilising activities and disinformation;

(j) strengthen EU-Canada coordination to address multifaceted challenges posed by China’s growth and assertiveness;

(k) work with Canada towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through a negotiated two-state solution; step up cooperation to secure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and support all diplomatic and operative efforts aimed at enhancing comprehensive regional stability;

(l) establish a biannual foreign policy dialogue to enable strategic cooperation on the highest priority issues;

Strengthening multilateralism

(m) further strengthen cooperation with Canada in defending multilateralism to jointly address the emerging and dangerous geopolitical realities affecting our shared values, interests and security;

(n) reinforce EU-Canada cooperation in multilateral forums by coordinating positions, aligning initiatives and working together to defend shared values;

(o) work together to safeguard the vital role and functioning of multilateral institutions, such as the UN, G7, G20 and NATO;

Cooperation in the Arctic

(p) express concern over the militarisation of the Arctic, and work with Canada to preserve the Arctic as a region of peace, stability and cooperation under international law;

(q) work closely with Canada to safeguard Greenland’s autonomy and agency of the Greenlandic people, in the context of increased geopolitical interest in the Arctic;

(r) strengthen cooperation between the EU, Canada, Denmark and Greenland, building on the historic agreement reached to peacefully resolve long-standing boundary disputes;

Trade in goods and services, digital trade and investment

(s) promote the benefits of CETA within the Member States and the EU, which include, but are not limited to, increased market access, simplified trade and reduced barriers for SMEs;

(t) call on the 10 Member States that have not yet ratified CETA to do so swiftly, as an important political signal ahead of the 10-year anniversary, in 2027, of its provisional application;

Global development

(u) ensure close coordination with Canada to help fill critical gaps, reinforce multilateral development frameworks, promote sustainable development and inclusive international partnerships, and uphold support for civil society and democratic resilience;

Education, research and people-to-people ties

(v) follow up swiftly on the commitment to deepen cooperation in areas such as people-to-people ties, culture, youth, support for inclusive policies and the framework of the EU-Canada Digital Partnership;

(w) increase societal resilience by leveraging Canada’s association to Horizon Europe, enhancing cooperation in education and research, facilitating transatlantic mobility of young people for work, studies and volunteering and exploring further the opportunities for people-to-people contact and study exchanges, building on Erasmus and Erasmus+;

Concluding remarks

(x) continue building a genuine partnership of equals with Canada, based on trust, shared values and common interests;

(y) promote engagement in cooperation initiatives not only with Canada’s central government, but also with its provincial authorities and other relevant bodies;

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2. Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The partnership between the EU and the Canada is grounded in common values and a shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rules-based multilateral order, and the rule of law. In view of growing global instability and multiple challenges affecting both the EU and Canada, the report underlines the need for further strengthening the EU-Canada partnership and following up on the outcomes of the EU-Canada Summit of 23 June 2025 through concrete steps aimed at enhancing cooperation in key areas such as trade, competitiveness and resilience, trans-Atlantic security, education and research, and tackling climate change, while also developing cooperation in areas not yet fully addressed in the EU-Canada partnership, such as strengthening people-to-people ties, culture, youth, and supporting inclusive policies for all.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he included in his report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the draft report, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:

1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register

2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies

Mission of Canada to the European Union

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

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